Kadhir Pillai - Michael O'Connor

Michael O'Connor [pictured] sends this game from the New Jersey Open.

According to NM Todd Lunna, Black missed a win by 20...Bf4, trapping the rook on g3 because 21.exf4 Nf3+ wins the queen.

Round Two: French Defense, Tarrasch Variation

Kadhir Pillai (USCF 2121) - Michael O'Connor (USCF 1745), Morristown NJ 8/31/2013

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ne2 g6 8.O-O Bg7 9.Nf3 O-O 10.Bg5 Qb6 11.Qd2 cxd4 12.cxd4 f6 13.exf6 Nxf6 14.Be3 Ng4 15.Rac1 Nxe3 16.fxe3 e5 

17.dxe5 Bh6 18.Ned4 Rxf3 19.Rxf3 Nxd4 20.Rg3 Bf5 21.Rf1 Rf8 22.Bxf5 Nxf5 23.Qxd5 Kh8, draw.